Shaheen Afridi stood out as the standout performer among the Pakistan bowlers in a World Cup 2023 match in Bengaluru, where the Australian batters ruthlessly tore into the Pakistani bowling unit, amassing an imposing total of 367 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs.
In a crucial decision, Babar Azam won the toss and elected to field at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, a venue known for favouring batsmen. Unfortunately for Pakistan, their fielders and bowlers failed to support this decision effectively. The turning point came early in the innings when leg-spinner Usama Mir dropped a crucial catch, letting David Warner off the hook when he was on just 10. This incident visibly frustrated Shaheen Afridi, the bowler.
The Pakistan bowlers endured a tough day, bearing the brunt of David Warner's explosive batting display. Warner, alongside birthday boy Mitchell Marsh, achieved a remarkable feat by constructing a record-breaking opening partnership of 259 runs off just 199 balls. The duo combined for an astonishing 18 sixes and 24 boundaries, leaving the Pakistan bowlers in disarray.
On a day when Haris Rauf conceded over 10 runs per over and Hasan Ali conceded 7, Shaheen Afridi stood out as the shining light for Pakistan. He scalped 5 wickets and conceded just 54 runs in his allotted 10 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi etched his name in Pakistan's cricket history by becoming the first pacer from the nation to secure multiple 5-wicket hauls in a single World Cup fixture. His previous 5-wicket haul was an exceptional 6 for 35 against Bangladesh at Lord's in 2019.
Noteworthy Pakistani pacers with 5-wicket hauls in World Cup matches include:
Wasim Akram - 5 for 28 against Namibia in 2003.
Wahab Riaz - 5 for 46 against India in 2001.
Sohail Khan - 5 for 55 against India in 2015.
Mohammad Amir - 5 for 30 against Australia in 2019.
Shaheen Afridi - 6 for 35 against Bangladesh in 2019.
Shaheen Afridi - 5 for 54 against Australia in 2023.
Afridi played a pivotal role in breaking the formidable opening stand by dismissing Mitchell Marsh for 129 runs and swiftly removing Glenn Maxwell in the very next delivery. He further contributed by dismissing the dangerous Marcus Stoinis for 21, disrupting the Australian lower order. Shaheen Afridi twice came close to achieving a hat-trick during the innings, showcasing a resurgence in form after a challenging start to the World Cup campaign.
Australia concluded their innings with a formidable total of 367 runs, largely thanks to the remarkable performances of David Warner, who scored a sensational 163, and Mitchell Marsh, who contributed with an impressive 121.
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